Clarinet positioner



July 6, 1965A H. A. scHMlDT CLARINET PosIT-IoNER Filed June 23, 1964 United States Patent() 3,192,817 CLARNET PSE'HNER Harry A. Schmidt, Tallahassee, Fla., assigner to G. Le-

blanc Corporation, Kenosha, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed June 23, ltrll, Ser. No. 377,363 1li Claims. (Cl. Sti-327) This invention relates to a novel clarinet positioner for attachmentl to a conventional clarinet to position the clarinet in correct playing position with respect to a musicians chest and mouth.

A common diiiiculty of clarinet instructors is the problem of ensuring that their pupils hold the clarinet in correct playing position. One widely accepted clarinet plaT ing position taught by many clarinet instructors is with the clarinet extending downwardly from the players mouth at an acute angle to his body toward the floor. To maintain this partciular clarinet position, it is necessary to hold the clarinet with the elbows close into the body with the forearms extending outwardly from the body, and the right forearm generally parallel to the iloor. Unfortunately, the beginning pupil being unaccustomed to this particular position iinds his arms tiring easily, his elbows moving away from his sides, and the clarinet moving progressively upwardly toward a horizontal position with a resultant undesirable change in position of the clarinet mouthpiece between the pupils lips.

` To a lesser extent, the same problem plagues the experienced musician who may be required to hold the clarinet inposition for hours on end while playing in the band or orchestra. The problem is accentuated where a conventional lyre `or sheet music holder is attached to the clarinet, since the weight of the sheet music acting through the extended lyre tends to pull the clarinet down from the musicians mouth.

As will be appreciated, even minor changes in relative position of the mouthpiece of the clarinet with respect to the musicians lips tend to change the quality and volume of the notes issuing from the clarinet with perceptible and undesirable variations from the rich and expressive tones for which the clarinet is noted.

Thus, a broad object of the invention is to provide means to hold a musical wind instrument in a predetermined position with respect to the musicians body and lips.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel clarinet positioner to support the weight of the clarinet and to aid the player in holding the clarinet in a predetermined position with respect to lhis body and lips.

Another object is to provide a simple and relatively low cost clarinet positioning devicey which may be readily secured to a conventional clarinet to position the clarinet with respect to a musicians body so that the mouthpiece may be easily and repeatedly returned to an identical position between the musicians lips.

A further object is to provide means to support a clarinet from a musicians chest and neck in a predetermined position with respect to his body.

Another object is to provide novel clarinet positioning means to assist the musician in holding the clarinet in a predetermined position relieving his arms, iingers and lips from some of the stresses to which they may be exposed with the lingers relatively freer to manipulate the keys and the lips relatively more relaxed in an identical desired playing position about the mouthpiece to more readily achieve the rich and expressive tones for which the clarinet is noted.

Another object is to provide means to assist the bepic ginning clarinet student in repeatedly achieving and maintaining a substantially identical predetermined clarinet position in which the student is able to devote relatively more attention to the quality of music he is playing rather than to the mechanics of positioning and maintaining the instrument between his lips.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the appended claims and drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein:

FIG. l is a side perspective view of an embodiment of the invention operatively in position on a clarinet;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view on a larger scale of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged rear elevational sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 2 taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 4 4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of FG. 4.

Detailed description of the invention Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. l an embodiment of the invention operatively in position about a B-iiat clarinet with means shown to support a portion ot the weight of the clarinet from the neck and chest of a musician holding the clarinetl in playing position.

The B-flat clarinet shown includes a mouthpiece 10, a barrel or upper portion 12, a body upper joint or upper central portion 14, a body lower joint or lower central portion 16 and a lower end or bell 18. The lower joint 16 has an outer metallic reinforcing band 24 at its upper end 22 similar to upper and lower reinforcing bands 23, 25 and is adapted to receive a lower end 2@ of the body upper joint slidingly therein.

The clarinet positioner of the present invention, FG. 2, comprises a ring assembly 26 including a generally cylindrical positioning band or ring 28 having a lower notch or cutout portion Sil, a forward stud receiving protuberance 32 and a rear shaft receiving protuberance or nut 34, positioned generally diametrically opposite the stud receiving portion 32 on the ring. The ring 2S has a predetermined width generally about the same as that of the reinforcing ring 24, FIG. 5, and has an inner surface 36 generally complementaryto and adapted to iit about the outer surface it? of the reinforcing ring. Ring 28 is adapted to be tted snugly about the reinforcing ring prior to assembly of the upper and lower joints 14 and 16.

Band 28, FIG. 5, has a perforation 41 centrally positioned with respect to its width and extending from its outer surface 42 to its inner surface 36, the perforation 41 being internally threaded and being in alinement with a complementary internally threaded passageway 43 in stud receiving protuberance 32.

The stud receiving portion 32 is secured to the positioning ring 2S advantageously by brazing or by welding, and is positioned extending generally outwardly from the ring beingy adapted to receive a threaded stud 45, FlG. 5, of a knurled lyre holder 44, the stud being adapted to be threadedly received into the threaded passageway in the stud receiving protuberance 32 and in the threaded ring perforation 41. Stud l5 has a generally iiat end d6, FG. 5, adapted to be screwed tightly against the clarinet reinforcing ring.

Lyre holder ,fill has a threaded opening 47 at its other end, opening 47 being internally threaded to receive a threaded lyre rod i9 to support sheet music from the clarinet in a position where the musician can readily read the music.

The notch 3i) provided in the generally cylindrical ring 23, FIG. 4, is adapted to clear a third ring key 48, on the clarinet, sutiicient clearance being provided so as not to interfere with movement of the key.

Shaft receiving nut 34, FIGS. 3-4, is attached to ring 26 by means of a generally upwardly extending mounting plate or bar 50 which stabilizes the clarinet with respect to the ring 26. Bar 5) and nut 34 are conventionally welded or brazed together, bar 5t) then being secured to the ring by conventional means such as brazing or weldmg.

Bar 50, FIGS. 2, 4, is generally rectangular in shape and has an inner surface 52 complementary to the outer surface 54 of the clarinet, the bar being secured to ring 28 in a position extending upwardly and generally perpendicular to the circumference of the ring 28, that is, extending upwardly in the same general direction as the clarinet. Bar 50 is provided advantageously, but not necessarily, with upper and lower internally threaded screw openings 56 and 58, respectively. The openings are adapted to receive screws, not shown, to bear against the outer clarinet surface 54 or to be screwed into the clarinet to hold the plate into position and to stabilize positioning band 2S with respect to the clarinet.

Shaft receiving nut 34 has an inner end 6i) and an outer portion 62, the outer portion having an internally threaded opening 64 adapted to receive a threaded end 66 of a bracing plate shaft 68. The threaded end 66 is of a relatively smaller diameter than the balance of the shaft 68 and is threadedly inserted into the nut in a position at a right angle to the clarinet to properly position the shaft 68 to support the clarinet.

Shaft 63 has a rear end 70 which is pivotally secured, as by riveting, to a generally circular chest plate or disc 72, FIG. 2, with the shaft perpendicular to and extending outwardly and forwardly with respect to the plate. The plate 72 has an upper segment 74 which is bent or turned forward toward the forward threaded end 66 of the segment having a central generally circular perforation 76 adapted to receive a hook or snap connector 78 secured to a lower end of a leather strap Si) adapted to it around a players neck, the strap 80 being shown with a buckle 82 and a neck band 84, the buckle being provided for vertical adjustment of the snap connector and the chest plate 72, the neck band providing a broader cushioned area about the musicians neck from which to support the snap connector and chest plate.

Operation of the invention From the above description of an embodiment of the invention, its operation should be clear; however, for purposes of an easier understanding of the invention, a functional description of the invention is now provided.

A positioner for a musical wind instrument has been provided including a generally cylindrical ring assembly 26, FIG. 2, adapted to tit around a conventional clarinet reinforcing ring. The ring assembly is positioned about the reinforcing ring of the clarinet, a knurled thumb screw or lyre holder 44 is tightened threadedly into a stud receiving protuberance 32 to bear against the clarinet reinforcing ring 24 locking the ring clampingly in position against the clarinet reinforcing ring. The ring assembly is iixedly secured to one end of a shaft secured at its other end to a chest piece adapted to iit against the chest of a musician. A generally upright plate S0 is secured to the ring in position to t against the clarinet to stabilize the ring with respect to the clarinet and to prevent movement of the ring assembly on the clarinet. The chest piece shaft is advantageously angled at about a right angle to the chest piece and the clarinet so as to correctly position the the musical instrument with respect to the musicians ,chest and lips.

The chest disc is connected to a strap encircling the musicians neck, the weight of the clarinet being supported from the neck and chest of the musician to permit a repositioning of the clarinet in substantially the same position desired each time it is played with respect to the musicians body and lips. Thus, the clarinet positioner assembly relieves the arms and hands of the weight of the clarinet leaving them free to manipulate the keys of the instrument.

Since many modifications of the invention described above and illustrated in the various figures may be made, the invention should not be limited thereto; and it is contemplated by the appended claims to cover any modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A positioner for a musical wind instrument, said positioner comprising: a positioning band adapted to fit around said instrument; means to secure said band to said musical instrument; a shaft secured to said positioning band in a position extending radially outwardly fromV the band, said shaft having a rear end spaced apart from the end secured to the positioning band; a chest disc adapted to iit against the chest of a musician holding the musical instrument, said disc being secured to the far end of said shaft in a position with the shaft extending radially outwardly from the plate and from the musicians chest; and means connected to the disc to support the disc from about the musicians neck.

2. The positioner of claim 1 including stabilizing means secured to said band to stabilize the band and .to prevent movement of the band with respect to the instrument.

3. The positioner of claim 1 wherein said clamping means comprises a lyre holder threadedly inserted into a threaded opening provided in said positioning band, said lyre holder being adapted to be screwed tightly into said positioning band to bear against said reinforcing ring in a position diametrically opposite to the position of said shaft on said band.

4. A positioner for a musical wind instrument comprising a clarinet, said clarinet having an upper central portion and a lower central portion, said upper central portion being adapted to be connected to said lower central portion, said clarinet also having a centrally located outer reinforcing ring positioned on the upper end of said lower central portion; said positioner comprising: a generally cylindrically shaped positioning band having an inner surface generally complementary to and adapted to fit over said central reinforcing ring; a chest plate adapted to be suspended from about a musicians neck, said chest plate being connected to one end of a shaft connected at its other end to said positioning band; and means connected to said chest plate to move said chest plate upwardly or downwardly with respect to a musicians lips and chest.

5. A positioner for a musical wind instrument having a centrally located outer reinforcing ring and having a third ring key pivotally secured to said instrument in a position below and adjacent to said reinforcing ring, said positioner comprising: a positioning band adapted to tit snugly over said reinforcing ring, said ring having a lower notch adapted to lit .about said third ring key with a predetermined clearance above `an upper end of said key to permit the key to be operated freely; clamping means secured to said band adapted to hold said band securely to said reinforcing ring, said clamping means including a lyre holder positioned on said clarinet in outwardly extending position with respect to a musician holding said instrument in playing position; a shaft having a far end and a band end, said band end being iixedly secured to said band and extending radially outwardly from said band in a position diametrically opposed to the position of said lyre holder; a chest plate adapted to tit against the chest of a musician, said chest plate having an outer surface attached to the far end of said shaft; and means connected to said chest plate to suspend said plate from about a musicians neck :and to move said chest plate upwardly or downwardly with respect to said musicians neck so as to position said instrument with respect to said musicians chest and lips.

6. The positioner of claim 5 wherein said shaft is secured to said ring in a position generally perpendicular to said instrument and including stabilizing means secured between said band and said band end of said shaft to stabilize said band with respect to said clarinet, said stabilizing means having an inner surface adapted to fit snugly against said clarinet surface.

7. A positioner for a clarinet, said clarinet including a mouth piece, an upper portion, an upper central portion, a lower central portion, and a lower end having a bell-shaped opening therein, said lower central portion having an upper end adapted to receive a complementary portion on the lower end of said upper central portion, Isaid upper end of said lower central portion having a centrally 'located outer reinforcing ring, said positioner comprising: a positioning band adapted to fit slidingly over said central reinforcing ring when said lower central portion is disassembled from said upper central portion, said band being .adapted to fit snugly about said reinforcing ring, said band having a generally circular circumferential perforation; clamping means secured to said band in the area around said perforation, said clamping means being adapted to be inserted into said perforation to clampingly secure said band to said clarinet, said clamping means including a protuberance secured to said band in an outwardly extending position, said protuberance being internally threaded to receive a threaded stud; a lyre holder forming part of said clamping means, said lyre holder including a threaded stud, said threaded stud being generally complementary to and adapted to fit threadedly into said internally threaded protuberance and to bear clampingly against said reinforcing ring to secure said band to said reinforcing ring and said clarinet; a shaft of a predetermined length and having a forward end and a rear end, said forward end being secured to said band in a position diametrically opposed to said band perforation, said rear end of said shaft being secured to a chest plate; a chest plate having an inner surface adapted to fit against .the chest of a musician and having an outer surface secured to the rear end ofk said shaft, said chest plate comprising a generally llat disc, said disc having an upper portion extending outwardly with re- -spect to a musicians chest, said upper portion being centrally perforated, said central perforation being adapted to receive a connector secured to a neck band hung about the neck of said musician, said neck band and said connector having adjustment means to adjust the position of said chest plate upwardly or downwardly with respect to said musicians neck and lips, whereby said clarinet may be correctly positioned with respect to said musicians lips and body in a predetermined playing position.

8. The positioner of claim '7 wherein said positioning band has a lower notch adapted to lit over a centrally located clarinet thirdv ring key pivotally secured to the lower central portion of said clarinet, said band having an upper end in close proximity to said reinforcing ring, said notch being adapted to clear said third ring key so as to permit free operation of said third ring key.

9. A positioner for a clarinet, said clarinet including,

a mouth piece, said clarinet having a centrally located outer reinforcing ring and a third ring key pivotally secured to a lower central portion of said clarinet, said third ring key having an upper end in close proximity to said reinforcing ring; said positioner comprising: a generally cylindrically shaped positioning ring having an inner surface generally complementary to said reinforcing ring, said positioning ring being adapted to fit over said central reinforcing ring and having. a lower notch adapted to fit with a predetermined clearance above the upper end of said third ring key, said positioning ring having a generally circular perforation extending through said positioning ring from said outer circumference to the inner circumference; a stud-receiving protuberance extending out- 6 wardly from said cylindrical ring and having' an inner passageway adapted internally to threadedly receive threaded stud means to bear against said clarinet reinforcing ring to hold said clarinet positioning ring clampingly labout said reinforcing ring and said clarinet; a lyre holder having an externally threaded stud, said lyre having a body portion having a threaded opening therein adapted to receive a threaded end'of a lyre, said stud being operatively threadedly positioned in said positioning ring perforation to bear against said clarinet; a shaft receiving protuberance secured to the outer surface of said positioning ring in a position generally diametrically opposed to the position of said perforation and said lyre holder, said protuberance having an internally threaded bore therein adapted to receive a threaded shaft; a shaft of a predetermined length and having an externally threaded forward end threadedly inserted into said threaded bore, said shaft also having a rear end; a chest plate fxedly secured to the rear end of said shaft and having a rear surface adapted to rest against the chest of a musician holding said clarinet; and means connected to said plate to suspend said plate from about the neck of said musician, whereby said shaft and said positioning band correctly positions said clarinet with respect to said musicians body and lips whenrsaid mouth piece is inserted between said musicians lips.

10. A positioner for a musical wind instrument, said instrument including a mouthpiece, an upper central portion and a lower central portion, said upper end of said lower central portion having an outer reinforcing ring and having a key pivotally secured to said lower central portion, said key having an upper end in close proximity to said reinforcing ring; said positioner comprising a generally cylindrically shaped positioning band having an inner surface generally complementary to said reinforcing ring and adapted to fit over said ring when said lower central portion of said instrument is disassembled from said upper central portion, said band being so shaped as to fit slidingly over said ring, said band having a lower notch adapted to fit with a predetermined clearance above said upper end of said key, said band having a generally circular perforation extending through said ring from said outer circumference to the inner circumference of said ring; a stud-receiving protuberance extending outwardly from said ring and being secured to said ring in the area around said ring perforation, said protuberance being internally threaded to threadedly receive instrument clamping means; means secured to said ring at a position diametrically opposed to said stud-receiving protuberance to stabilize said ring on said instrument, said means comprising an upwardly extending plate having an inner surface adapted to fit snugly against the outer surface of said instrument, said plate being positioned on said cylindrical ring in a position generally perpendicular to the circumference of said ring, said plate being generally rectangular in shape and having an upper end and a lower end, said ends each having threaded openings therein adapted to receive a screw to iixedly secure said plate to said instrument, a protuberance mounted on said plate, said protuberance comprising a shaft-receiving portion secured by said plate to the outer surface of said ring in a position generally diametrically opposed to the position of said stud-receiving portion, said protuberance having an internally threaded passageway adapted to receive a threaded shaft; a shaft of a predetermined length and having a forward end and a rear end, said forward end being externally threaded and being threadedly inserted into said shaft receiving portion on said ring; a chest plate fixedly secured to the rear end of said shaft and having a rear surface adapted to rest against the chest of a musician holding said instrument, said plate being generally circular in shape and being positioned on said shaft with said shaft extending axially outwardly from said plate, said plate having an upper segment thereof extending 8 adapted to it clampingly against said reinforcing band when said thumb screw is threaded into position in said stud-receiving portion, the internally threaded other end of said thumb screw being adapted to receive a threaded lyre to hold sheet music in position to be read by said musician holding said instrument.

No references cited.

the forward end of said stud being generally flat and being 10 LEO SMILOW, Primary Examiner- 

1. A POSITIONER FOR A MUSICAL WIND INSTRUMENT, SAID POSITIONER COMPRISING: A POSITIONING BAND ADAPTED TO FIT AROUND SAID INSTRUMENT; MEANS TO SECURE SAID BAND TO SAID MUSICAL INSTRUMENT; A SHAFT SECURED TO SAID POSITIONING BAND IN A POSITION EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARDLY FROM THE BAND, SAID SHAFT HAVING A REAR END SPACED APART FROM THE END SECURED TO THE POSITIONING BAND; A CHEST DISC 